Liquid crystal display device

ABSTRACT

A liquid crystal display capable of being minimized, in which a backlight assembly has a light source portion for generating light, a liquid crystal display panel receives the light from the backlight assembly to display images. A mold frame for sequentially accepting the backlight assembly and liquid crystal display panel is formed to be gradually thinner as further advancing from a first side of accepting to place the light source portion toward a second side opposing to the first side. Also, a chassis coupled to be opposite to the mold frame for closely fixing the backlight assembly and liquid crystal display panel to the mold frame is formed to be gradually thinner as further advancing from the first side of accepting to place the light source portion toward the second side opposing to the first side. Thus, the liquid crystal display can be slimmed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a Divisional Application of the co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/621,825 filed Jul. 21, 2000, which claimspriority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 99-29529filed on Jul. 21, 1999, Korean Patent Application No. 99-30549 filed onJul. 27, 1999, Korean Patent Application No. 00-31337 filed on Jul. 8,2000, which are all hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes asif fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (hereinafterreferred to as “LCD”), and more particularly to a LCD capable ofperforming an information processing function with minimized dimension.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, the advancement in the information industry has remarkablydeveloped information processing apparatuses, such as computers. Also,the technical progress in the information processing apparatuses in turnbrings about the development of monitor units that externally displaysthe information supplied from the information processing apparatuses.

Largely, the monitor units are classified into “CRT-type monitor units”using the characteristics of cathode ray tubes and “LCD unit-typemonitor units” applied with the physical and optical characteristics ofliquid crystals. The LCD unit-type monitor units, because of theadvantages such as the minimization, light-weight and low powerdissipation, compared to the “CRT-type monitor units,” are being widelyavailable in the display apparatus of a portable computer, a monitor ofa desk-top computer and a monitor of an image apparatus of high picturequality.

The specific examples of the foregoing LCD unit-type monitor units aredisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,502,582 issued to Larson et al. entitled by“Light Source Cooler for LCD Monitor”, U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,770 issued toHoyt et al. in the same title, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,825,614 issued to Kimentitled by “Compact Personal Computer with LCD monitor.”

Considering the above patents, the notebook computer, a kind of portablecomputer, has a main body for storing and processing informationprovided by an input unit such as a keyboard; and a monitor unit capableof swinging about the main body for displaying the information suppliedfrom the main body thereon.

In a notebook computer, the monitor unit includes an LCD and a case. TheLCD has a LCD panel assembly, a backlight assembly, a mold frame and achassis. The LCD panel assembly has a liquid crystal panel, a signaltransmission film, a source printed circuit board (hereafter, referredto as “PCB”), a gate PCB and a control board.

Here, the source PCB, gate PCB and control board are mounted to beseparated from one another, and electrically connected by means of aflexible PCB for securing the signal transmission path from one another.

The control board generates a color signal, a clock signal and a powersource signal in accordance with image signals. The source PCB carriesout an operation for displaying the images in response to the signalssupplied from the control board.

At this time, the source PCB is mounted with various portions such as adata latch section, a timing generating section, a voltage generatingsection, and so on to generate signals such as a driving signal and acontrol signal. The gate PCB is mounted with a gate voltage supplyingsection for generating a predetermined gate voltage in response to thecontrol signal from the source PCB.

The aforementioned source PCB and gate PCB are mounted to the LCD in aPCB-bending manner, and bent from the side plane toward the rear planeof the LCD to be connected to the control board. Therefore, the LCDbecomes as thick as the thickness of the components mounted to thesource PCB.

On the other hand, the signals provided from the aforementionedinformation processing apparatus are of analog signals, but the LCDunit-type monitor unit is generally driven by digital signals.Accordingly, the monitor unit has an analog-digital convert circuitboard for converting the analog signals supplied from the informationprocessing apparatus into the digital signals.

The analog-digital convert circuit board is electrically connected tothe control PCB by means of a connecting cable, and the control PCB iselectrically connected to the source PCB by means of a flexible printedcircuit board.

Once a lot of electric signals are transmitted via the flexible printedcircuit board and connecting cable in a high speed, plenty ofelectromagnetic waves are generated from the members which electricallyconnect respective printed circuit boards. Thus, the electromagneticwave serves as an inferior factor that greatly degrades the quality ofthe monitor unit.

Moreover, the flexible PCB and connecting cable are too expensive tosatisfy the economic concern of heightening the cost of the product aswell as the foregoing problem of electromagnetic wave.

Also, products provided by integrally coupling the main body of thecomputer system and the monitor unit is currently in great demand.However, these are just limited to the computer system applied with theCRT-type monitor unit while products provided by coupling the main bodyof the computer system to the LCD unit-type monitor unit have yet to beavailable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is one object of the present invention to provide a LCDcapable of minimizing the dimension of the LCD.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an informationprocessing apparatus having a minimized LCD.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a LCDhaving an information processing function.

To achieve the aforementioned object of the present invention, a liquidcrystal display according to the embodiment of the present inventionincludes a backlight assembly having a light source portion forgenerating light, and a liquid crystal display panel for receiving thelight from the backlight assembly to display images. Also, a mold framefor sequentially accepting the backlight assembly and liquid crystaldisplay panel is formed to be gradually thinner as further advancingfrom the first side of receiving, to place the light source portiontoward the second side opposition to the first side. In addition tothese, a chassis coupled to be opposite to the mold frame for closelyfixing the backlight assembly and liquid crystal display panel to themold frame is formed to be gradually thinner as further advancing fromthe first side of receiving, to place the light source portion towardthe second side opposition to the first side.

To achieve the above object of the present invention, an informationprocessing apparatus according to the embodiment of the presentinvention includes a liquid crystal display panel assembly having aliquid crystal display panel and a source printed circuit board formedwith a wiring pattern for signal transmission. Further to the liquidcrystal display panel assembly, a backlight assembly supplies light tothe display unit, a mold frame accepts the backlight assembly anddisplay unit, and a chassis is coupled to oppose to the mold frame forclosely fixing the backlight assembly and display unit. By thisconstruction, the source printed circuit board receives a liquid crystaldisplay panel driving signal supplied from the outside of the mold frameand chassis for driving the liquid crystal display panel to transmit theliquid crystal display panel driving signal to the liquid crystaldisplay panel.

To achieve the above object of the present invention, a liquid crystaldisplay according to the embodiment of the present invention is formedby a liquid crystal display module which includes a backlight assemblyhaving a light source portion for generating light, and a liquid crystaldisplay panel having a source printed circuit board for transmittingsignals to receive the light from the backlight assembly to displayimages. Also included as parts of the liquid crystal display module area mold frame for sequentially accepting the backlight assembly andliquid crystal display panel, which is formed to be gradually thinner asfurther advancing from the first side of receiving, to place the lightsource portion toward the second side in opposition to the first side,and a chassis coupled to oppose to the mold frame for closely fixing thebacklight assembly and liquid crystal display panel to the mold frame,which is formed to be gradually thinner as further advancing from thefirst side of receiving, to place the light source portion toward thesecond side in opposition to the first side. In addition to the liquidcrystal display module, there is provided an information processingmodule which has a liquid crystal display panel driving circuit forgenerating a driving signal for driving the liquid crystal displaypanel, and supplying the driving signal to the liquid crystal displaypanel via the source printed circuit board.

Preferably, the information processing apparatus further includes aflexible printed circuit board to electrically connect the liquidcrystal display panel driving circuit and source printed circuit board.The flexible printed circuit board and the source printed circuit boardare electrically coupled by means of either one of an anisotropicconductive film and a solder.

Furthermore, the information processing module is closely coupled to therear plane of the mold frame, and the liquid crystal display module andinformation processing module are fixedly placed between a front caseand a rear case closely coupled by being opposite to each other.

In addition, the information processing module further includes signalconverting means electrically, which is coupled to the liquid crystaldisplay panel driving circuit, for converting an analog video signalsupplied from the outside of the liquid crystal display, into a digitalvideo signal in order to supply the converted signal to the liquidcrystal display panel driving circuit. Also, the liquid crystal displaymodule further has a reinforcing bracket closely coupled to the rearplane of the mold frame.

Moreover, the liquid crystal display module is coupled to theinformation processing module by means of hinges and latches, theportion of placing the light source portion in the liquid crystaldisplay module is coupled to the information processing module by meansof the hinges, and an end of the portion thins as distance furthers fromthe light source portion is coupled to the information processing moduleby means of the latches.

According to the above LCD and information processing apparatus, theliquid crystal panel driving circuit which generates the driving signalfor driving the liquid crystal panel, is mounted to the main body of thecomputer system. Accordingly, the chassis, mold frame, front and rearcases are fabricated in the form of corresponding to thelight-conducting plate of the backlight assembly. By assembling thechassis, mold frame, and front and rear cases, the side plane of the LCDbecomes gradually thinner as being further distanced from the positionof accepting the light source portion, thereby being capable of makingthe LCD thinner.

In the meantime, the information processing module mounted to the mainbody may be accommodated between the mold frame and rear case. Once theinformation module is accommodated within the LCD in this manner, theadvantage is that the space occupied by the main body of the computersystem can be utilized for other uses when the main body of the computersystem and monitor unit are separately constructed. If the informationprocessing module is included within the internal space of the LCD, theinformation processing module, the liquid crystal panel driving circuitand source PCB are directly connected by means of an anisotropicconductive film, solder or the like. Consequently, the electromagneticwave generated due to using the separate connecting member such as theflexible PCB can be minimized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above objects and other advantages of the present invention willbecome more apparent by describing in detail preferred embodimentsthereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a computer system having an LCDaccording to one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a construction of the LCDshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the circuit diagram of the computersystem shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the flexiblePCB shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views for showing the coupling state of the main bodyof the computer system and monitor system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the LCD having the informationprocessing function according to one preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing an internal constructionof the LCD having the information processing function shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the coupling relation of theinformation processing module and liquid crystal display module shown inFIG. 7;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are block diagrams showing the circuit construction ofthe LCD with the information of the processing function as shown in FIG.7;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the LCD having the informationprocessing function according to a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an internal construction of theLCD with the information of the processing function as shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view showing the couplingconstruction of the liquid crystal panel driving circuit and source PCBshown in FIG. 13; and

FIGS. 15 and 16 are views showing the coupling construction of theinformation processing module and liquid crystal display module shown inFIG. 13, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a computer system with an LCDaccording to one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a main body 100 of a portable computer system iscoupled to a monitor unit 110 by means of a swing member (not shown).

Monitor unit 110 has an LCD 300 driven by signals from main body 100 anda case 200 for accepting to protect LCD 300. Case 200 includes a frontcase 210 having a bottom plane opened to correspond to a portion ofdisplaying a picture of LCD 300 and a rear case 220 coupled foraccommodating LCD 300 to be coupled to front case 210 in oppositionthereto.

LCD 300 is furnished between front case 210 and rear case 220, and mainbody 100 and LCD 300 are electrically coupled by a flexible PCB 120 tomutually supply signals.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a construction of the LCDshown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, LCD 300 has a mold frame 310 formed with receivingspace. A backlight assembly 330 is placed within the receiving space ofmold frame 310, and generates to guide light. A liquid crystal displaypanel assembly 350 provided to the upper portion of backlight assembly330 receives the light and displays the picture. A chassis 370 iscoupled to be opposite to mold frame 310, and closely fixes backlightassembly 330 and liquid crystal display panel assembly 350 into thereceiving space of mold frame 310.

Backlight assembly 330 has a light source portion 332 for generating thelight and a light-conducting plate 331 having one side section closelycoupled to light source portion 332. Light-conducting plate 331 becomesgradually thinner as it is being further distanced from light sourceportion 332. A reflecting plate 333 for reflecting the light isinstalled to the lower side of light-conducting plate 331 and opticalsheets 334 for diverging and focusing the light are installed to theupper side of light-conducting plate 331.

At this time, light-conducting plate 331 is formed in the followingmanner that a first side of placing light source portion 332 and asecond side facing the first side differ in thickness, i.e., differentheights. In other words, the thickness of light-conducting plate 331 isformed to be thinner as it is being distanced from the first side wherelight source portion 332 is placed. Accordingly, even though reflectingplate 333 and optical sheets 334 are installed to be closely attached tothe upper and lower portions of light-conducting plate 331, the heightof the first side which places light source portion 332 of backlightassembly 330 therein is different from that of the second side oppositeto the first side.

Meanwhile, liquid crystal display panel assembly 350 includes a liquidcrystal panel 355, a liquid crystal (not shown), a signal transmissionfilm 360 and a source PCB 365.

Liquid crystal panel 355 has a TFT substrate 351 formed with a gate line(not shown), a data line (not shown), a thin film transistor and a pixelelectrode, and a color filter substrate 352 installed over TFT substrate351.

Signal transmission film 360 has a gate signal transmission film 361connected to respective gate lines of TFT substrate 351 and a datasignal transmission film 363 connected to the respective data lines.Gate and data signal transmission films 361 and 363 are respectivelymounted with a gate driving drive IC 362 and a data driving drive IC 364for supplying a gate driving signal and a data driving signal to thegate line and data line of TFT substrate 351.

On the other hand, source PCB 365 is formed with a wiring pattern forsignal transmission that supplies the gate and data driving signalsrespectively to gate signal transmission film 361 and data signaltransmission film 363. The gate and data driving signals are suppliedfrom main body 100 of the computer system having the informationprocessing function as shown in FIG. 1. That is, liquid crystal paneldriving circuit 153 for generating the gate and data driving signals fordriving liquid crystal panel 355 is internally furnished to main body100.

Backlight assembly 330 and liquid crystal display panel assembly 350 aresequentially accepted within the receiving space of mold frame 310, andare closely coupled to mold frame 310 by means of chassis 370 coupled bybeing opposite to mold frame 310.

At this time, mold frame 310 and chassis 370 are formed so that thedepth of the receiving space becomes as shallow as light source portion332 of backlight assembly 330 is further distanced from the position ofreceiving light source portion 332. This is because, generally, thethickness of the side plane when coupling backlight assembly 330 withliquid crystal display panel assembly 350 is different from that of thesecond side plane while liquid crystal panel driving circuit 153installed to be bent toward the rear plane of liquid crystal displaypanel assembly 350 by being electrically coupled to source PCB 365 ismoved to main body 100.

As described above, by forming the receiving space of mold frame 310 andchassis 370 in the same depth regardless of the different thickness ofthe first side of placing light source portion 332 from that of thesecond side when coupling backlight assembly 330 and liquid crystaldisplay panel assembly 350, an empty space exists between backlightassembly 330 and liquid crystal display panel assembly 350. Due to thisfact, backlight assembly 330 and liquid crystal display panel assembly350 cannot be firmly accepted within the interior of mold frame 310 andchassis 370. Therefore, mold frame 310 and chassis 370 are formed in awedge shape by which the receiving space becomes gradually shallow asbeing further distanced from the position of receiving light sourceportion 332.

When mold frame 310 and chassis 370 furnished in the wedge shape arecoupled to oppose to each other, both lengthwise side planes of lightsource portion 332 have different thickness on the first side of placinglight source portion 332 from that the second side of opposing to thefirst side. Also, as shown in FIG. 1, front case 210 and rear case 220are formed in the wedge shape corresponding to mold frame 310 andchassis 370. Consequently, the thickness of LCD 110 is reduced as muchas the space being occupied by liquid crystal panel driving circuit 153.

Meanwhile, the construction of main body 100 for accommodating liquidcrystal panel driving circuit 153 is as shown in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 3, main body 100 has a control board 150. Controlboard 150 is formed by a graphic controller 151 for generating controlsignals such as a color signal R-G-B, a clock signal CLK and asynchronizing signal SYNC, and a power supplying section 152 forreceiving an external power source to generate a driving power sourcesignal. Included as a part of control board 150 is a liquid crystalpanel driving circuit 153 for generating the driving signal for liquidcrystal panel in response to the control signals and driving powersource signal. Here, liquid crystal panel driving circuit 153 mounted tocontrol board 150 and source PCB 356 included into LCD 300 areelectrically connected by flexible PCB 120 as shown in FIG. 1.

More specifically, liquid crystal panel driving circuit 153 includes adata latch section 154 for latching to delay color signal R-G-B for apredetermined time interval and supplying the delayed signal, and atiming generator 155 for generating the control signals required for thedriving of liquid crystal panel 355 in response to clock signal CLK andsync signal SYNC supplied via data latch section 154. Besides, a voltagegenerator 156 is provided for generating a gradation voltage requiredfor liquid crystal panel 355 and a gate on/off voltage in response tothe driving power source signal.

In addition, the aforementioned signals from liquid crystal paneldriving circuit 153 are supplied to liquid crystal panel 355 viaflexible PCB 120 and source PCB 365.

Referring to FIG. 4, flexible PCB 120 includes a first flexible PCB 121extending from liquid crystal panel driving circuit 153 and a secondflexible PCB 122 extending from source PCB 365. Also, first and secondconnectors 123 and 124 are respectively installed to the ends extendingfrom first and second flexible PCBs 121 and 122. A signal transmissionpath between liquid crystal panel driving circuit 153 and source PCB 365is secured by connecting first connector 123 and second connector 124.

Here, first connector 123 and second connector 124 can be connected ateither the rear plane of backlight assembly 330 and the internal spaceof main body 100. First flexible PCB 121 and liquid crystal paneldriving circuit 153, and second flexible PCB 122 and source PCB 365 areelectrically connected by an anisotropic conductive film or solder, inwhich detailed description on the connecting method will be describedlater.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views showing the method of coupling main body 100with monitor unit 110.

Referring to FIG. 5, main body 100 and monitor unit 110 are coupled bymeans of hinges 112 and 114 and latches 212 and 116. Hinges 112 and 114are installed to portions of placing light source portion 332 of monitorunit 110, i.e., at the thicker side of monitor unit 110, to be coupledto main body 100.

As shown in FIG. 6, hinges 112 and 114 are provided so that a pair ofconnecting wings 112 b & 112 c and 114 b & 114 c are respectivelycoupled to shafts 112 a and 114 a in the diagonal direction. Monitorunit 110 is fixedly coupled to main body 100 by means of hinges 112 and114 and swings by centering about shafts 112 a and 114 a.

Additionally, the thinner side portion of monitor unit 110, i.e., theportion opposite to the position of installing with light source portion332, is detached/attached from/onto main body 100 by means of latches212 and 116.

Meantime, main body 100 and monitor unit 110 may be formed in a body byaccepting main body 100 to the interior of monitor unit 110, of whichone example is illustrated in FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the LCD having an informationprocessing function according to one preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 7, the computer system basically has an input unitsuch as a keyboard 400 and mouse 401, and a monitor unit 500 capable ofperforming the information processing function having been performed inmain body 100 shown in FIG. 1.

Now, the LCD having the information processing function shown in FIG. 7will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 7 to 11.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing an internal constructionof the LCD having the information processing function shown in FIG. 7,and FIG. 9 is a view showing a state of closely attaching an informationprocessing module shown in FIG. 8 to the rear plane of the liquidcrystal display module. FIGS. 10 and 11 are block diagrams showing thecircuit construction of the LCD having the information processingfunction shown in FIG. 8 in detail.

Referring to FIG. 8, monitor unit 500 includes a front case 510, a rearcase 520 coupled to oppose front case 510, having a receiving space of apredetermined depth, and LCD 500 accommodated between front case 510 andrear case 520 for displaying images.

Front case 510 has a rectangular frame form, and is formed on a standplate 512 by interposing a hinge 511. Rear case 520 is formed of asubstance such as a metal or a metal alloy for blocking electromagneticwave generated from circuits of LCD 500.

LCD 500 is formed by a liquid crystal display module 530 and aninformation processing module 540, electrically coupled to liquidcrystal display module 530 and accepted into the rear side of liquidcrystal display module 530, i.e., between liquid crystal display module530 and rear case 520.

Liquid crystal display module 530 has a liquid crystal display panel531, gate and data signal transmission films 534 and 535, a source PCB536 and a liquid crystal display panel driving circuit 537.

Specifically, liquid crystal display panel 531 includes a TFT substrate532 formed by a thin film transistor, a pixel electrode, a gate line anda data line. A color filter substrate 533 consisting of a commonelectrode and R-G-B pixels facing with the pixel electrode of TFTsubstrate 532 is formed over TFT substrate 532. In spite of not beingshown in the drawing, a liquid crystal for varying the permeability oflight by the change in the arrangement by means of an electric fieldforms a layer between TFT substrate 532 and color filter substrate 533.

The gate and data lines of TFT substrate 532 are respectively connectedwith output terminals of gate signal transmission film 534 and datasignal transmission film 535 via an anisotropic conductive film. Also,an input terminal of data signal transmission film 535 is connected withone end portion of source PCB 536 formed with a wiring pattern forsignal transmission.

The other end portion of source PCB 536 is electrically connected withliquid crystal panel driving circuit 537 for performing the functiondescribed with reference to FIG. 3, and liquid crystal panel drivingcircuit 537 is electrically connected with information processing module540. Liquid crystal panel driving circuit 537 processes a driving signaland a timing signal to be received via gate and data signal transmissionfilms 534 and 535 in response to an image signal supplied from aninformation processing module 540. At this time, the data driving signalsupplied to the data line among the driving signals having beenprocessed by liquid crystal panel driving circuit 537, is supplied intodata signal transmission film 535 via source PCB 536. Additionally,after passing through source PCB 536 and data signal transmission film535, the gate driving signal supplied to the gate line among the drivingsignals having been processed by liquid crystal panel driving circuit537 is supplied to gate signal transmission film 534 via the pattern forsignal transmission formed to TFT substrate 532.

As described above in detail, the method for transmitting the gatedriving signal to the gate line by sequentially passing through liquidcrystal panel driving circuit 537, source PCB 536, data signaltransmission film 535, TFT substrate 532 and gate signal transmissionfilm 534 is implemented by a “one-chip technique,” in which the activeelements of the gate PCB are mounted to liquid crystal panel drivingcircuit 537, the wiring pattern of the gate PCB is formed onto TFTsubstrate 532, and then the gate PCB is omitted. Likewise, the activeelements of source PCB 536 are mounted to liquid crystal panel drivingcircuit 537, and source PCB 536 is formed with only the wiring patternfor signal transmission. The foregoing one-chip technique may also beidentically applied to the liquid crystal display panel assembly 350shown in FIG. 2.

Meanwhile, although not shown in FIG. 8, backlight assembly 330 and moldframe 310 are sequentially interposed between liquid crystal displaypanel 531 and rear case 520, as shown in FIG. 2. In addition, chassis370, as shown in FIG. 2 is interposed between liquid crystal displaypanel 531 and front case 510 to be coupled to oppose mold frame 310.

Referring to FIG. 9, as described above, information processing module540 connected with liquid crystal panel driving circuit 537 is closelycoupled to mold frame 538 on the rear plane of liquid crystal displaypanel 531, together with liquid crystal panel driving circuit 537 whiledata signal transmission film 535 is bent.

At this time, a reinforcing bracket 539 may be installed onto mold frame538 to firmly fix liquid crystal panel driving circuit 537 andinformation processing module 540.

When information processing module 540 is accommodated into the interiorof LCD 500 as described above, the overall thickness of LCD 500 may beincreased in association with the number of elements included into theinformation processing module 540. However, as described with referenceto FIG. 2, the above-stated information processing module 540 isaccepted within the receiving space of mold frame 538 provided in themanner that the thickness of light-conducting plate 331 becomesgradually thinner as it is being further distanced from light sourceportion 332. Also, in liquid crystal display module 530 as describedabove, the number of PCBs to be received by liquid crystal displaymodule 530 is decreased and the elements become compact by the one-chiptechnique. Thus, the thickness of LCD 500 hardly increases. Onceinformation processing module 540 is accommodated within the interior ofLCD 500 as described above, it is advantageous in that the space havingbeen occupied by the main body of the computer system can be utilizedfor another use when the main body of the computer system and monitorunit are separately formed.

Referring to FIG. 10, information processing module 540 has a centralprocessing unit CPU 541 for generating the control signals, a storingsection 542 for storing or outputting data, and a video signal processor543 for processing video data to supply it to liquid crystal paneldriving circuit 537. In addition, there is provided a power supplyingsection 545 for supplying electric power, an interfacing section 546 forinterfacing data with an external information processing module, and amultimedia section 547. These sections transmit the data and signals viaa data bus 548 and a control bus 549 formed to a main board (not shown).Here, storing section 542 is formed by at least one selected among aROM, a RAM, a hard disc drive and an optical disc.

Referring to FIG. 11, information processing module 540 as describedabove may be added with functions required by a user. For example, amodem 547 a for performing the external communication, a sound card 547b for playing or recording sound, a graphic card 543, etc. may be added.

Meanwhile, as described above, the information processing moduleaccommodated within the LCD may selectively perform only the partialfunctions of information processing module 540 as shown in FIGS. 10 and11.

For example, information processing module 540 may be formed by just ananalog-digital converter electrically connected to liquid crystal paneldriving circuit 840 to convert analog signals to digital signals.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 12, in addition to a monitor unit 900having an analog-digital converter 870, and an input unit such as akeyboard 600 and a mouse 601, a main body (not shown) performing thefunction as information processing module 540 shown in FIG. 8 is to beseparately furnished. At this time, monitor unit 900 and the main bodyare electrically connected by a connection line, designated by referencenumeral “602.”

Also, referring to FIG. 13, the analog-digital converter 870 isaccommodated within the display 900 in a manner similar to that in whichthe information processing module 540 is accommodated within the display500 of FIG. 9. In other words, the analog-digital converter 870 isclosely attached to the rear plane of the mold frame 850 together withthe liquid crystal panel driving circuit 840 by the bending of the datasignal transmission film 831. In the same manner, a reinforcing bracket860 is installed on the mold frame 850 to firmly fix the liquid crystalpanel driving circuit 840 and the analog-digital converter 870 thereto.The analog-digital converter 870 may then be closely coupled to thereinforcing bracket 860 by means of, for example, one or more screws.

In FIG. 13, the other elements of monitor unit 900 that are notdescribed, perform the same functions as those of the correspondingcomponents of liquid crystal display module 530 shown in FIG. 8.

On the other hand, referring back to FIG. 9, information processingmodule 540, liquid crystal panel driving circuit 537 and source PCB 536are directly coupled with one another without using a separateconnecting member such as the flexible PCB.

Furthermore, analog-digital converter 870, liquid crystal panel drivingcircuit 840 and source PCB 830 shown in FIG. 13 are also directlyconnected with one another without using a separate connecting member.

To attain such a coupling, as shown in FIG. 14, a coupling terminal 842is formed between liquid crystal panel driving circuit 840 and sourcePCB 830. Coupling terminal 842 is formed by the anisotropic conductivefilm or solder which affords an excellent electrothermosensitive powerand an outstanding coupling force.

Moreover, liquid crystal panel driving circuit 840 and source PCB 830are respectively formed with wiring patterns 832 and 832 a for signaltransmission. Then, via wiring patterns 832 and 832 a for signaltransmission, the signal is transmitted between liquid crystal paneldriving circuit 840 and source PCB 830.

Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16 which illustrate the coupling relation ofthe information processing module and liquid crystal panel drivingcircuit, liquid crystal panel driving circuit 840 and analog-digitalconverter 870 are electrically connected by means of a socket or bitingconnector.

As shown in FIG. 15, an upper socket 841 and a lower socket 871 arerespectively mounted to the planes of mutually connecting liquid crystalpanel driving circuit 840 and analog-digital converter 870. At thistime, upper socket 841 is arranged with a plurality of contact pins 841a having a conductivity, and lower socket 871 is arranged with aplurality of contact holes 871 a having the conductivity alike.Therefore, by coupling upper socket 841 and lower socket 871 to faceeach other, liquid crystal panel driving circuit 840 and analog-digitalconverter 540 a are electrically connected to each other.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 16, biting connector 874 is mounted ontothe portion of analog-digital converter 870 connected with liquidcrystal panel driving circuit 840, to electrically connectanalog-digital converter 870 with liquid crystal panel driving circuit840. At this time, biting connector 874 is provided with an upper plate876 and a lower plate 875 in the form of tongs.

A wiring pattern 877 for signal transmission is formed on the upperplane of lower plate 875, i.e., the portion of being connected withliquid crystal panel driving circuit 840. Also, a wiring pattern (notshown) for signal transmission is formed to a portion of liquid crystalpanel driving circuit 840 corresponding to wiring pattern 877 for signaltransmission of lower plate 875.

The coupling method of liquid crystal panel driving circuit 840 andanalog-digital converter 870 using biting connector 874 is as follows.First, liquid crystal panel driving circuit 840 is inserted betweenupper plate 876 and lower plate 875 of biting connector 874. Then, uponpressing down upper plate 876 of biting connector 874, wiring pattern877 for signal transmission formed to lower plate 875 and the wiringpattern (not shown) for signal transmission of liquid crystal paneldriving circuit 840, electrically contact with each other to secure asignal transmission path between liquid crystal panel driving circuit840 and analog-digital converter 870.

The method for electrically connecting liquid crystal panel drivingcircuit 840 with analog-digital converter 870 by using the socket orbiting connector as described above is identically applied to the methodfor electrically connecting liquid crystal panel driving circuit 537 andinformation processing module 540 shown in FIG. 9.

According to the LCD and information processing apparatus as describedabove, the liquid crystal panel driving circuit for generating thedriving signal to drive the liquid crystal panel, is mounted to the mainbody of the computer system. The driving signal from the liquid crystalpanel driving circuit is supplied to the source PCB formed with thewiring pattern for signal transmission via the flexible PCB.

The chassis, mold frame, front and rear cases of the LCD are fabricatedin the form of corresponding to the light-conducting plate of thebacklight assembly for minimizing the space between the liquid crystaldisplay module and mold frame produced by eliminating the liquid crystalpanel driving circuit from the LCD. That is, as the chassis, mold frame,front and rear cases are further distanced from the position ofreceiving the light source portion, the depth of the receiving spacebecomes shallow as the exposure plate.

Accordingly, when the chassis, mold frame, front and rear cases areassembled for receiving the liquid crystal display module, the sidethickness of the LCD becomes thinner as being further distanced from theposition of receiving the light source portion with the consequence ofmaking the thickness of the LCD slim.

Meantime, in connection with the trend of the gradual decrease in thenumber of the PCBs to be received into the liquid crystal display moduleand of the high integration of the elements applied to the computersystem by the one-chip technique, the information processing modulemounted to the main body may be furnished between the mold frame andrear case. Upon accepting the information processing module into theinterior of the LCD as above, there is an advantage that the spacehaving been occupied by the main body of the computer system when themain body of the computer system and the monitor system are separatelyprovided, may be utilized for another use.

Furthermore, only one among several functions of the informationprocessing module as the analog-digital converter may be selectivelyfurnished between the mold frame and rear case as the analog-digitalconverter. When the information processing module is placed into theinternal space of the LCD as described above, the information processingmodule, liquid crystal panel driving circuit and source PCB are directlyconnected by using the anisotropic conductive film or solder.Consequently, while the generation of the electromagnetic wave resultingfrom using the separate connecting member such as the flexible PCB isminimized, the product performance of the LCD can be maximized.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and describedwith reference to particular embodiment thereof, it will be understoodby those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details maybe effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

1. A display device, comprising: a display panel displaying an image; amold frame having opposite front and rear planes, the display panelbeing disposed in front of the front plane thereof; a first connectingmember attached to a first portion of a front plane of the displaypanel; a first printed circuit board (PCB) comprising a source PCBclosely attached to the rear plane of the mold frame and electricallycoupled to the display panel through the first connecting member, thefirst connecting member being attached to a first portion of the firstPCB, the first connecting member partially overlapping with the firstPCB; and, a second PCB comprising a driving circuit PCB closely attachedto the rear plane of the mold frame and having a first portion directlyconnected to the first PCB to electrically connect the second PCB to thefirst PCB without using a separate connecting member.
 2. The displaydevice of claim 1, wherein the first connecting member is attached to afirst edge of the display panel.
 3. The display device of claim 2,wherein the first connecting member comprises a tape carrier package(TCP).
 4. The display device of claim 3, wherein the TCP comprises adriver integrated circuit (IC).
 5. The display device of claim 1,wherein the first PCB consists exclusively of a wiring pattern forsignal transmission.
 6. The display device of claim 5, wherein the firstconnecting member is attached to a first edge of the source PCB and thesecond PCB is attached to a second edge of the source PCB.
 7. Thedisplay device of claim 1, wherein the display device includes aplurality of source drivers and gate drivers, and wherein the sourcedrivers are disposed on the second PCB.
 8. The display device of claim7, wherein the second PCB generates a timing signal for the displaypanel.
 9. The display device of claim 1, further comprising a thirdconnecting member attached to a second portion of the display panel. 10.The display device of claim 9, wherein the third connecting membercomprises a tape carrier package (TCP).
 11. The display device of claim10, wherein the TCP comprises a driving integrated circuit (IC).
 12. Thedisplay device of claim 9, further comprising a third PCB electricallyconnected to the display panel through the third connecting member. 13.The display device of claim 12, wherein the third PCB comprises a gatePCB.
 14. The display device of claim 1, further comprising a signalconverting unit electrically connected to the second PCB through asecond connecting member, the signal converting unit being operable toconvert an externally provided analog video signal into a digital videosignal and to provide the converted signal to the second PCB.
 15. Thedisplay device of claim 14, wherein the signal converting unit and thesecond PCB are closely attached to the rear plane of the mold framethrough a recurvate bending of the first connecting member.
 16. Thedisplay device of claim 14, wherein the second connecting membercomprises an upper socket formed on an end portion of the second PCB anda lower socket formed on an end portion of the signal converting unit,the upper socket and the lower socket corresponding to each other. 17.The display device of claim 14, wherein the second connecting membercomprises a biting connector formed on an end portion of the secondconnecting member, the biting connector corresponding to an end portionof the second PCB.
 18. The display device of claim 1, further comprisinga front chassis coupled to a front of the mold frame, the front chassisand mold frame defining an enclosure within which the display panel isenclosed, the front chassis having a rectangular opening therein throughwhich a front surface of the display panel is visible.
 19. The displaydevice of claim 18, further comprising opposing front and rear casesdefining an enclosure within which the display device is enclosed, thefront case having a opening therein corresponding to the rectangularopening of the front chassis.
 20. The display device of claim 18,further comprising a backlight assembly interposed between the frontplane of the mold frame and the display panel.
 21. A display device,comprising: a display panel for displaying an image; a first connectingmember attached to a first portion of the display panel; a first printedcircuit board (PCB) electrically coupled to the display panel throughthe first connecting member, the first connecting member being attachedto a first portion of the first PCB, the first connecting memberpartially overlapping with the first PCB; a second PCB directlyconnected to the first PCB through a second connecting membercorrespondingly formed on a first portion of the second PCB and a secondportion of the first PCB; a signal converting unit electricallyconnected to the second PCB to convert an externally provided analogvideo signal into a digital video signal and to provide the convertedsignal to the second PCB; and, a mold frame having opposite front andrear planes, the display panel being disposed in front of the frontplane thereof, the signal converting unit being closely attached to therear plane thereof.
 22. The display device of claim 21, wherein thesignal converting unit is electrically connected to the second PCBthrough a third connecting member.
 23. The display device of claim 22,wherein the third connecting member comprises an upper socket formed onan end portion of the second PCB and a lower socket formed on an endportion of the signal converting unit, the upper socket and the lowersocket corresponding to each other.
 24. The display device of claim 22,wherein the third connecting member comprises a biting connector formedon an end portion of the third connecting member, the biting connectorcorresponding to an end portion of the second PCB.
 25. The displaydevice of claim 21, further comprising a front chassis coupled to afront of the mold frame, the front chassis and mold frame defining anenclosure within which the display panel is enclosed, the front chassishaving a rectangular opening therein through which a front surface ofthe display panel is visible.
 26. The display device of claim 25,further comprising opposing front and rear cases defining an enclosurewithin which the display device is enclosed, the front case having aopening therein corresponding to the rectangular opening of the frontchassis.
 27. The display device of claim 25, further comprising abacklight assembly interposed between the front plane of the mold frameand the display panel.